Switch.



V. G. APPLE.

SWITCH.

APPLIUATION HLBD JUNE a, 1914.

1,1 32,997. Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IKW, A l

MMIII V. G. APPLE.

SWITCH.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNI; a, 1914.

1,132,997. Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

- sTATns PATENT orifices.

vnvCENT G. mm, or naYToN, onIo, nssIeNon To ELECTRIC Conrmir,- orDAYTON, omo, a CORPORATION or cmo.

SWITCH.

Be it known that I, VINCENT G. ABPLE, a citizen of the llnited States,residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches, yof which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in switches and more particularlyto a compact, weatherproof switch adapted for use in connection with anelectrical apparatus for starting gas engines.

One of theobjects of my invention is to provide a simple, compact switchinclosed in a weatherproof casing, adapted to carry a heavy current andhaving aquiclr snappy make and break action.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a ,switch adapted forconnection in an electric starting system for gasengines wherein thestorage battery is connected directly across the dynamo terminals, theswitch being of the double contact single pole type and connecteddirectly in oneof the main feed wires.

Another Vobject of my invention is t0 provide such a switch for directlyconnecting the storage battery to the dynamo and simultaneouslyconnecting theignition circuit to condition the same for operation ofthe gas engine.

, Still another object is to provide such a switch for operation by afoot pedal which Y on being pressed inwardly for closure of theVcontacts automatically locks itself and is releasable only on a partialrotation of the pedal member.

Other and further objects will become apparent to those skilled in theart from a consideration of the following description and drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved switch` showing it mountedupon the foot board or instrument board of an automobile. view on theAline 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a l`transverse sectional view on the line3-3 of -tudinal sectional ig. 2. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional viewon the line 5-7-5 of Fig. 2.- Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one ofFig. a. 4 is a 10 vthe switch blades, and Fig. 7 vis a diagrammatierepresentation of my dynamo, battery Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 2 im longitudinal stamaniV Patented Maf. 23, i915.

Application sled :une s, 1914. serial no. 843,158.

and ignition circuit with the switch connected one of the main feedwires;

Referrmg to the drawings the numeral 10 indicates a cylindrical shell orcasing pro-l vided at its upper endv withdiagonaliy opposite lugs l1flush with the upper end of the cylinder and having apertures 12 toreceive v the bolts 13, by means of which the switch is secured to asupport such as the instrument board 14. A tubular head 15 extends ashort distance from the upper end of the cylinder 10 and is bored out toreceive a removable plunger 16 by means of which the switch is operated.

The plunger 16 is provided at its outer end with a head 17 having spikedinserts 18 in order that the operators shoe may positively engage withthe head and rotate the same for unlocking the switch, The lockingmechanism comprises a pin 19 extending through the tubular head 15 intothe opening within which the plunger 16 reciproeates and engaging alongitudinal slot 20 in the wall of the `plunger 16,-the outer end ofthe slot 20 having an offset recess 21 provided at its outer end with acurved orocam shaped Y end wall 22. As the plunger 16 is forced into thehead 15, the pin 19 being in engagement with the slot 20 it is apparentthat Iwhen the end of the slot reaches thepin the latter will engagewith the cam shaped wall 22 and cause the partial rotation of. theplunger 16 throwing the olfset recess of the slot 21 around the pin;When the operator removes his foot from the pedal, the plunger ispressed outwardly by the action of a spring and the shoulder provided bythe offset recess 21, engages with the pin 19 and locls the plunger 'inposition. To. unlock the plunger and pennit the action of the spring topush it outwardly a partial rotation is necessary -1n order to carry theoiset recess of the slot 21 out of engagement with the pin and to movethe slot'20 into alinewhen the plunger isfinits outer poition and theswitch contacts separated; This is to 'prevent the plunger -16fromaccidental re;

moval from the head 15 by vibration. If the operator wishes to lock theswitch in its off7 position, the plunger may be pulled out of the head15 by applying sufficient pressure to slip the spring head 25 out of thenotch 26.

A disk like head or base 27 of insulating material closes the inner openend of the cylinder 10 and is secured thereto by the two screws 28 whichtake into tapped openings inthe lugs 29 carried at the inner wall of thecylindrical shell 10. The switch proper, together with its operatingmechanism, is carried entirely upon the insulating head 27 so that whenthe screws 28 are removed, the entire switch with its various assembledparts may be removed intact from the cylindrical shell 10 for inspectionor repair.

A post 30 is secured at its lowerl end lin a central' opening in theinsulating head 27 and extends axially upward into the shell 10 to apoint 4where the head 15 joins the shell. An annular ring 31 ofinsulating material is positioned upon the inner face of the head 27,spaced slightly away from the post 30, and is provided withdiametrically oppositely extending slotted wings 32. This ring, togetherwith its wings in the present instance, is made in a removable piecesecured to the head 27 by the pins 33, though it is obvious that thesame may be made integral with the head if so desired. A pair ofmetallic sectors 34 are positioned upon the inner face of the insulatinghead 27 at each side of the dividing line formed by the slottedwingsf32-by means of the bolts 35 secured at their heads to the sectors.These bolts 35 extend outwardly through the insulating'head 27 and carrythe nuts 36 providing terminal contacts for the switch. Upwardlyextending arcuate plates or blades 37 slotted as at 38 to provideflexibility are secured at their lower ends in arcuate slots in thesectors 34 and provide the two opposite contacts or poles .for theswitch. A metallic cup shaped switch member 39 is slidable on the post'30 and when forced downward, in a manner to be described, makes i atight fit within the arcuate blades 37 closing the switch.'

A thimble 40, sldable upon the post 30, 1s flanged outwardly at itslower end 41, providing an abutment for the cup-shaped switch member 39which is slidably movable on the body part of the thimble. An openspring 42 surrounds the post 30 and 1s positioned between the lower faceof the flange 41 of the thimble and the innerface of the insulating head27. This yieldingly holds the thimble in its uppermost position carry-V`ing with itthe cup shaped switch member 39. A second open spring 43considerably stiffer than the spring 42 surrounds the thimble 40vabutting at its lower end against' the cupA shaped switch memberf39 andat its upper end against a metallic disk 44 secured upon the upper endof the'thimble. An insulating washer 45 is positioned over the disk 44and a locking ring or key 46 engaging the upper end'of the post 30 locksthe above described parts from slipping up over the end of the post.

The plunger 16 is centrally bored as lat 47 to receive the upwardlyextending end of the post 30 and the tubular inner end 48 of the boredout plunger engages the upper surface of the insulating washer 45 thuspermitting inward movement of the plunger 16 to be transmitted to theswitch member. Obviously an inward pressure upon the plunger 16 forcesdownward the cup shaped switch member 39 into engagement with itsopposite switch members 37, closing the circuit.

In order. that the making and breaking action of the switch may bepositive, snappy and quick in its action, eliminating sparking andburning of the contact surfaces such ends of the springs 49 are providedwith shoulders 52 positioned somewhat above the upper end of the switchmembers 37 and extending inwardly suiiiciently far to. engage with thecup-shaped switch member 39 normally locking the same up away from theblades 37. The extreme upper ends of the leaf springs 49 are turnedoutwardly, as at 53, so that when the annular disk 44 is forced inwardlyupon the post 30, by the plunger 16, it will yengage with the outwardlyturned ends 53 of the leaf springs forcing them apart and permitting thecup shaped switch member 39 to pass beyond the shoulders 52 and engagewith its opposite switch members 37.

The operation of the device is as follows. Normally the spring 42presses the cup shaped switch member 39 upwardly upon the post 30 abovethe leaf spring shoulders 52 and out of contact with its opposite switchmembers 37. Asthe plunger 16 is pressed inwardly by the operators footthe metal disk 44 is pressed downward compressing the spring 43.Obviously the pressure upon the cup shaped switch member 39 y compressedspring 43 to force downward the tcup shaped swltch member. 39 with arapid,

r#lated force of the spring 42 to snappy action into contact with theopposite switch members 37. Obviously the .spring 43 is compressed aconsiderable degree before the leaf springs are separated and theclosure of the switch contacts is therefore very rapid and burning andsparking is prevented. Inward movement of the plunger 16 causes theengagement of the pin 19 with the cam shaped end wall of the slot 22,partially rotating the plunger until it engages with the offset rece' 21of the slot, and when the operators foot is removed from the pedal, thepedal is thereby locked in position with the switch in engagement. Whenthe' operator wishes to open the switch, the plunger 16 is partiallyrotated until the pin 19 is in alinement with the slot 20 and the spring43 no longer being held in compression permits the spring-42 to act uponthe inner end of the thimble 41 which carries the cup shaped switchmember 39. The first action of the spring in forcing upwardly againstthe cup shaped switch member 39 is to press the same into engagementwith the under sloping surfaces of the shoulders 52 of the leaf springs49. These resist for a time the action of the spring 42 until itoverpowers the leaf springs, forcing them outward and permitting theaccumusuddenly shoot the thimble 40 upward upon the post 3() quicklyseparating the cup shaped switch member 39 from its coacting switchmembers 37. The resultisaquick, snappy break, eliminating sparking andburning of the contacts. Whereas the'switch is primarily designed as adouble contact single pole switch for connecting and disconnecting acircuit including a battery and dynamo I have also provided the outerend of one of the bolts 51, which secure the leaf springs upon theinsulating head 27, withnuts 54 to which one side of the ignitioncircuit may be connected.

The lcircuit diagrammedin Fig. 7 comprises a storage battery 55 and adynamo56 havingfan armature 57, shunt field 58, series field 59, andterminals and 61. The terminal 462 of the storage battery is connectedldirectly by the main conductor 63 to the terminal 61 ofv the dynamo andthe other terminal 64 of the storage battery is connected by the wire 65to one side of the switch, the other side of the switch is connectedthrough the wire 66 to the terminal 60 of the dynamo. I have not deemedit necessary to show in detail the ignition circuit but have shown onlytwo of the wires extending thereto and numbered 67 and 68. One of theWires of the ignition circuit 67 is connected to the feed wire 63 andthe other wire 68 is connected to the terminal 54 of the switch. Closureof the switch thus directly connects the battery 55 across the termfinalof the dynamo 56 and at the same time connects directlyl the wires 67and 68 of the ignition circuit across the terminals of the battery.

This system and switch is designed primarily for the purpose 'ofeliminating all unnecessary parts in order to provide an inexpensive andsimple equipment for self starters for automobiles of the cheapervariety in which an expensive and complicated system cannot beinstalled, because of the initial lo'w cost of the car. I have succeededin this system in eliminating everything but a plain dynamo motor withseries and shunt fields and single armature windings, to operate at lowvoltage, a double contact single pole starting switch and a two terminalstorage battery. It has been actually demonstrated that a system of thisnature will satisfactorily operate in connection with low poweredautomobiles, without the'necessity of complicated and intricatecontrolling and regulating mechanism. Even at low car speed, as forexample eight to ten miles an hour the loss from the battery ispractically nothing for the reason that the bucking series windings tendto build up the dynamo field in the right direction even at low speed.

M v copending application entitled Automobile self starting systems,Serial No: 843,758, filed June 8th, 1914, relates more particularly tothis system and illustrates and describes the same in detail.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the apparatus andsystem without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having ydescribed my invention, what I claim isz- 1. In .a switch thecombination of a base part; a post, secured therein;,switch blades,carried by said base; a switch member, slidable upon the post andadapted to engage with said switchl blades; means, normally tending tomove said switch member into engagement with said blades; means,normally holding said switch member from engagement with the blades andmeans carried by said post for releasing said holding means.`

. 2'. In a switch the combination of a base; a post, carried thereby;switch blades, carried .by the insulating base; aA switchmember,slidable on the post and adapted to engage with said blades; a disk,slidable upon .said post above the switch member, a spring 30. "'saidspring andsubsequently releasing said switch member out of engagementwith the switch blade; a," spring, adapted to move said switch memberinto engagement with the switch blade; and longitudinally mov-l ablemeans, for potentiating said spring and subsequently releasing saidholding means.

' 4. In aswitch the combination of a base; a post,carried thereby; aswitch blade, carried by the base; a switch member, slidable upon saidpost; a disk, carried by said post above the switch member; a spring,vinterposed between the two'; meansfnormally holdingsaid switch memberout of engagement with the. switch blade; a casing, for said switchmember; a plunger, slidable therein and adapted to engage said disk;

and means, operable by saiddisk for releasing said holding means.

5. In a switch the combination of a cas ing; a base, therein; a post,carriedby said base; switch blades, carried'by said base; aswitehlmember, slidable upon said post; a; switch 'operating plunger,slidable withinthe casing; a diskcarried by the outer end ofi said post;a spring, interposed between said" disk andswitch--member; normallyoperating means, for-:holding said switch member out of engagement' withthe switch blades; and means, operated by the inward movement of saidplunger for potentiating holding .fmeans v- 6. In a switch" thecombination of a casing; a plunger, slidable therein.; a base,

closingone 'end l,of the casing; apjpost, secured therein switch blades,mounted upon the base;` a', .,switchi,"member, slidable upon said'pos'tand'adapted to engage said blades a spring,- interposed between .sa id..b'ase` and switch member normally -holding the fsameout of -engagementwith the blades; a disk,

- slidable upon said -post above the switch shoulders 'adapted' toengage with lsaid switchmember and normallyhold the same out ofengagement with the switch blades,n

nesses'.

the outer ends of said leaf springs being cam shaped for .engagementwith the said disk, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. Inia switch the combination of a base part; a post, secured therein;switch blades carried by said base; a switch member slidable uponthe'post and adapted to engage thesaid switch blade; means, adapted toengage with said switch member and move therein; switch blades, mountedupon the base; a switch member slidable upon said post and adapted-toengage said blade; a

spring, interposed between said base andv switch memberfnormally holdingthe same out of engagement with the blade; a disk,

slidable upon said post above the switch member; a spring interposed`between said disk and switch member; leaf springs, carried. by the baseand insulated from. the switch blade; said springs being providedwithshoulders adapted to engagev with "said switch member and normallyhold the same vout .of engagement Jwiththe. switch blade,

the outer ends of said leaf spring being cam shaped for engagement withthe said disk;

and a' binding post connected with one ofh said leaf springs.v

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence oftwosubscribing wit- VINCENT Gr.v APPLE.

In'the presence ofp v 1 v N. SNYDER,

E. M. EARNHART.'

